£15 to £20

Lovely hints of grapefruit, white peach and herbs on the nose of this Sicilian native grape wine with depth and minerality.

One of the largest producers in the region, Tornatore owns 46 hectares of vineyards on the north side of Mount Etna, 1,000m above sea level.  Light straw yellow with intense green reflections.

Country:Italy

Region:Sicily

Sub Region:Etna

Vintage:2015

ABV:12.5%

Grapes: 100% Carricante

The estate was founded in 1865 and is still run by the third generation of the same family. Their focus is on native grape varieties Nerello Mascalese, Nero Cappucci, Carricante and Catarratto, while their winemaking style is more modern in its approach, with lower alcohol and more emphasis on fruit.

A delicate and floral sparkling rosé from Guerrieri Rizzardi.

Country: Italy

Region: Bardolino 

Grapes: Corvina and Merlot

ABV: 12.5%

Lovely hints of grapefruit, white peach and herbs on the nose of this Sicilian native grape wine with depth and minerality

Country:Italy

Region:Sicily

ABV:12.5%

Grapes: Catarratto

.A beautiful salmon pink colour, this lovely rosé is fresh, clean and fruit driven. Yum!

Country: South Africa

Region: Sondagskloof, Walker Bay

Grapes: Malbec and Merlot

ABV: 12%

Food Matching: Seafood and fleshy white fish dishes

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof (they produce 90% of WO Sondagskloof wine), which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region. This area is perfectly suited to Bordeaux varietals and, with the exception of Shiraz, is exclusively planted with them.

The Afrikaans wine names might look like a bit of a mouthful, but they are good fun; Bloos (‘blush’), Kaalvoet Meisie (‘barefoot girl’), Kat Met Die Houtbeen (‘cat with the wooden leg’), Posmeester (‘postmaster’), Kleinboet (‘little brother’) and Swartskaap (‘black sheep’).

Inviting scents of ripe red berries intertwined with delicate yeasty undertones grace the nose, offering a tantalizing introduction. The palate unveils its dry, lightly sparkling nature, accompanied by a harmonious balance of vibrant acidity and luscious fruity nuances. Approachable and effortlessly enjoyable.

Grape: Nero di Troia

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 12%

Light-bodied, fresh, and versatile, this Calabria Rosso IGT captivates with its vibrant character. Aromas of crushed red fruits on the nose with layers of red currant, raspberry, and a hint of orange zest. On the palate, fine tannins are beautifully balanced by bright acidity, leading to a persistent and elegant finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Cirò, Calabria

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Magliocco: 15%
Gaglioppo: 85%

Food match: Pizza and tomato based pasta dishes

The wines are made in Calabria in the toe of Italy’s boot, where native varieties reign supreme – Magliocco, Nerello, Mantonico, Greco and the region’s star grape, Gaglioppo.

The Cirò DOC is a picturesque corner of the Mediterranean, along the Ionian coast, in the eastern foothills of the Calabria region, a large peninsula that forms the toe to Italy’s boot. The Parrilla family, who own and run Tenuta del Conte, have been making wine here for four generations, the latest of which to take over the estate are Mariangela, Giuseppe, and Caterina.

In 2011 Mariangela Parrilla took over as winemaker. Mariangela takes a philosophical approach to winemaking, with the aim to let these traditional indigenous grape varieties speak for themselves and their terroir. Her wines are all organic, no herbicides or chemicals are used at any stage of the production process, she opts for spontaneous fermentations using indigenous yeasts, no filtration, and solely stainless-steel and bottle aging. Taking each wine vintage by vintage she lets them evolve and age “according to their own natural rhythm”, making each wine unique. This could be just one year in bottle before release or over 10 years. Not only does she capture the unique character of the grape variety but that of the vintage it's from too.

Together with a handful of other wineries in the area, Mariangela is part of “The Cirò Revolution”, a group formed to promote and protect their territory’s identity. They are dedicated to organic viticulture and minimal intervention wine making, they make traditional wines, in homage to their ancestors, from native grape varieties.

A soft, but lifted nose of crushed red berries and a hint of wild herbs. Fresh and lively on the palate with an elegant, lifted nose of crushed red fruits and hints of wild herbs and sweet red cherry. Well structured with fine tannins and lightly spicy oak, fresh, delicate and juicy on the finish.

Country: Italy

Region:Monferrato,  Piemonte

ABV:13.5%

Grapes: Slarina

Food match: Great with tomato based stews with lentils or chicken. 

A straw-coloured white with a lightly spicy bouquet of jasmine, herbs, nutmeg, and hints of white peach. The palate shows a strong mineral backbone balanced by lively acidity, leading to a long, complex finish with almond notes.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Grapes: Catarratto Lucido 

ABV: 12.5

Organic and Vegan

Food Pairing: Catarratto is a very versatile wine that pairs well with fish and seafood, white meats, grilled vegetables and soft goat cheese.

A wonderful classic example of Soave at its very freshest, zesty best!

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Garganega

Food Match: poultry, Asian dishes or salads

Deep ruby red in colour. Intense notes of morello cherry, wild blackberry, and violet, sometimes with hints of leather, tobacco, or spice. Full-bodied and "austere" with high acidity and firm tannins that soften over time.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Rabosa

ABV: 12.5%

Straw yellow in colour, clean, green apple and citrus fruit flavours, crisp and fresh finish.

Grape: Pecorino

ABV: 13%

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

Straw yellow in colour. Fresh in flavor, this wine is fruity with superb minerality which adds length. Elegant and intense in aroma.

Country: Italy

Region: Gallura, Northern Sardegna

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Vermentino

Food match: Seafood Linguini

Fresh and zesty nose with notes of citrus, peach, and a hint of honeysuckle. The palate is lightly honeyed and textural with ripe lemon characters balanced by crisp acidity, and with a touch of white spice and a fresh, mineral finish.

Forest aromas and concentrated fruit aromas of blueberries and cherries mark this red wine. Its elegant ruby colour is the feature of the filigree nature that one then finds on the palate. Lively fruit, ripe tannins and a long sophisticated finish are the strong characteristics of this delightful variety and the wine it produces.

Country: Germany

Region: Pfalz

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Delicious, semi-sweet red from Georgia's largest wine region, Kakheti. The wine is supple and very easy drinking with lots of red berry, cranberry and black cherry aromas and flavours.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kindzmarauli, Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 12%

Food Match: Goes perfectly with a cheese board full of hard, soft, fresh and aged cheeses accompanied by fruit preserves as well as dried and fresh fruits such as dried apricots and fresh green grapes.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

On the nose this wine has intense notes of red fruits, such as blueberry, raspberry and black cherry with hints of balsamic and spicy notes of black pepper. It is earthy with vibrant acidity, a pleasant soft mouthfeel, medium bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Grapes: 70% Nero-D'Avola, 30% Perricone

ABV: 13%

Food Match: A great accompaniment to salami, antipasti and caponata but also primi pasta dishes such as Pasta alle Sarde.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet, Refosco

ABV: 13.5%

Country: France
Region: Provence
ABV: 12.5%
Grapes: Grenache Noir (30%) Cinsault (30%) Syrah (30%) Rolle (10%)

Food Match: Excellent with grilled tuna steak and crunchy green beans with olive oil and sea salt.

Inviting aromatic nose with aromas of herbs, orange zest, fresh meadows and apples. Lively palate with flavours of citrus and quince. An incredibly charming wine.

Country: Austria

Region: Traisental

Grapes: Gruner Veltliner

ABV: 12%

Food match: great with grilled trout or slightly spicy Asian dishes with coconut

Medium Lemon yellow colour. Floral aromas of citrus fruits and with mineral notes. A lovely freshness and elegance on the palate, supported by bright acidity. Very well balanced natural wine.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisbon

Grapes: Fernão Pires

ABV: 13%

Winemaker Andre is always interested in experimenting with new and old methods. He is the 5th generation of winemakers at Quinta do Montalto, the farm has 15Ha of Vineyards grown with organic certification since 1997 in Clay and Chalk soils under the Lisbon DOC Encostas D’Aire.

Black cherry, violet and subtle herb and smokey characters on the nose with complex liquorice and earth flavours on the palate. Firm, but ripe tannins, great structure.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Renwick, Marlborough

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

Food match: Great with lamb tagine or grilled meats with Mediterranean herbs.

Richly nutty and very moreish, balanced by a bright line of acidity.

Country: Italy

Region: Umbria

Grapes: Trebbiano Spoletino, Grechetto, Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%

Food pairing: seafood, fish

Vegetarian, Vegan

Ruby red in colour. Dry, fresh and packed full of floral and red berry fruit aromas and flavours,

Country: Italy

Region: Modena

Grapes: Grasparossa di Castelvetro

ABV: 11%

Food Match:  Great as an aperitif, with antipasto or with soft cheese after dinner.

A dry but powerful Gewurztraminer with spicy, rose petal and mango notes on the nose. Full-bodied and rich on the palate with notes of ginger, orange and vanilla balanced by fresh, mouth-watering acidity.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Gewurztraminer

'Great value' and 'white Burgundy' are not two phrases that normally go together.. but hunt through the Maconnais and there are amazing finds such as this one.

A light and fruity Chardonnay in the Burgundian style, with a perfect balance of concentration, acidity and minerality. Refreshing and very quaffable!

Country: France

Region: Macon, Burgundy

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Chardonnay

The Talmard name has been ever-present in the Mâconnais since the 17th century, with generation upon generation of the family involved in the business and culture of wine. Located in Uchizy, just to the north of Mâcon itself, the estate is now run by Mallory and
Benjamin along with their son, Marco. Talmard own 40 hectares of vineyards spread throughout Southern Burgundy, all planted to Chardonnay, with low, controlled yields of around 66 hl/ha. The objective with all wines is to allow the terroir to speak, with fermentation mainly in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts.